Process of and apparatus for ascertaining the change of gaseous matter in human bodies



Sept. 6, 1927. ,817

H. W. KNIPPING PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASCEIRTAINING THE CHANGE OF GASEOUSMATTER IN HUMAN BODIES Filed Sept. 15. 1924 "I i w I U a aw/w Patented Sept. 6, 1927.'

. mmo mu my HAMBURG; seam-ma BB C S'Q AND A A ATU$ FOR- ascnn'raminq CHANGE. on aseous MATTER HUMAN 30mins. I I

Applicationifiled September-15,1924, Serial n). 732',fla50 ,.ana.m Germany. may 22;1924. 1

The subject matterof the present" invention is an improved processof and apparatus for ascertaining the changejof' gaseous matter in the human? b y: I

The improved process starts from the basis of the wellknownclosed circuit system in which the person for experiment takes, from a gasometer, at first pure oxygen and then, in the sequel of the experiment, a mixture of oxygen and exhaled air. Up to date the carbonic acid in the closed system was absorbed incaustic soda and determined byweighing. This improved process determines the carbonic acid in the closed 16 apparatus by a volumetric system. 7

In the accompanying sheet of drawing thereis shown a 'dlagrammatic view of a contrivance for carrying the improved process into practice.

The oxygen or mixture of oxygen. and'exhaled air passes from the gasometer 1 provided'with a scale or graduation 2 through the hose 8 to the pump 9. and from there through the hose 18 to the washing-bottle 4. From this bottle the gas flows off through the neck 5' and the hose 6 to the threeway-cock 7 which can be adjusted in such a manner that the oxygen or'gas mixture passes either. tothe inhaling mask of the person'for ex- 39 periment and from there through the body of the said person and the pipe 8 backinto them gasometer l, or directly back'to the gasometel-through the said pipe 8. The circulation of the gas is effected by the'pump 9 driven by the motor 10 having a starting-reslstance 11.

y The calibrated vessel forming the washing-bottle' i is provided With'two globular, enlargements or bulbs 12 and 13. d An elbow 1 tube 15 is arranged inside the bottle 4: lead- 7 of oxygen gas 1nt o carbon dioxide in a living body which comprises establishing a 7 ing from the'neckl l nearly'jto'the bottom ofthe said bottle. The lower end or foot of the tube 15 is made in the well known form of a perforated bulb 1 5". A calibrated glass globe 16 for the reception of sulfuric acid is connected to thebottle 1 by means of a suitable tube provided with a cook 17 adapted to control the communication from the said globe tothe washing-bottle.

practice by meansof thedescribed contrivance in the following manner. 7

Before the beginning of the experiment the gascmeter isifilled up with oxygen and read oif from the scale.

The improved process may be'carried into,

the cf the same ascertained. by reads ingo'ff the graduation. "Th'ereupon the experiment isstarted. After the process of inralajtionfand exhalation has taken" place for a certain p eriod oftime, say for exampie for fifteen minutes,'the patient under. treatment is cut out by properlyturning the threeway co'ck, the consumption of oxygen read off from the scale and a certain amount of sulfuric acid of 15 vol. percent allowed toslowly flow into the caustic potash solution contained in the bottle 4, whereby the carbonate'of potassium is decomposed and the carbonic acid liberated. During this decomposition of the carbonate ofpotassium the pump is still in operation; and the washometer into which enters the liberated carbon dioxide, the volume of which may be The ascertained values of oxygen and carbonic acid are reduced in well known manner to 0 and 76 cm. height of the barometer.

The decomposition of the carbonate of potassium is attended, as is well known, with considerabledifficulties. By cautiously add ing the acid by drops to the solution the llquids place themselves in layers one above the-other, and reaction takes place only at the contacting surfaces. On the other hand when the acid is. allowed to enter in great. quantity, there will readily take place an explosion-like reaction, so thatparticles of liquid. may be taken. along with the gas.

This'drawback is avoided according'to the normally closed circuit ofoxygen gas or gas including oxygen, withdrawing gas from said circuit for use in breathing bythe living body, replacing into said circuit the used gas, absorbing the formed carbon dioxide in said circuit by an absorbing medium therefor, and thereafter liberating and measuring in said circuit the carbon dioxide absorbed by said absorbing medium.

2. An apparatus for measuring the change of exygen into carbon dioxide comprising a gasfiiiietr, apunip, an absorption means fitibtiii dieaiae, gas conveying con lit;

meeting in a closed circuit the gaeometer, pump and absorption means, said absorption means comprising a vessel provided with gas inlet means reaching near the bottom there of, gas outlet means near the top thereof and means for introducing a substance into said vessel for the purpose of liberating the carbon dioxide absorbed in said vessel.

3. An apparatus for measuring the change of oxygen into carbon dioxide comprising a gasometer having a scale and moving part for indicating changes in volume, a pump, an absorption means for carbon dioxide gas, conveying means connecting in a closed circnitthe gasometer, pump and absorption means. and means in said circuit permitting the removal of gas from and the addition of gas to said circuit.

i. An apparatus for measuring changes in the composition oi a gas comprising a gas ometer, a gas impeller, absorption means for a gaseous substance, gas conveying means connecting in a circuit the gasoineter, the impeller and the absorption means, means in said circuit permitting the removal of gas from and the replacing of gas in said circuit, and means associated with said circuit for measuring vohlmetrically any change in volume of gas in said circuit.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

Da. HUGO "W. KNIPPING. 

